Last week I attended a food tasting at Sommelier's Roast in Raleigh. -A new coffee & tea shop that carries not only excellent coffee & tea, but also light faire that is, well, not ordinary. Plus, this place is different. Although it’s casual, it’s not a hipster type spot, instead it’s got more of a sophisticated feel. Add to it that it’s a family owned business, and I’m even happier to tell you about it.
The Caramel Apple Cider Latte was the best I've ever tasted. And I drink a lot of lattes of all kinds. This was so very good!
Here’s a fun fact of how they came up with their business name: Husband Lance Odvody used to be a wine sommelier at Angus Barn, and those unique skills are transferable to coffee. He began roasting his own coffee beans a few years ago, then he started Bethesda Roasting Co. The coffee is available at the shop and through subscription. He even roasts the coffee on the premises. Hence the name, Sommelier’s Roast.
In addition to coffee, they offer teas, and wife Ashley Odvody, is the tea expert. She sources teas from places such as Asheville Tea Company among others.
Lance & Ashley are serious about quality and taste and that is gold in my book.
Pictured below on left is Ashley, and Raleigh attorney, Elizabeth Voltz on right. The way this business even came to be, is that Lance and Elizabeth's husband, who happens to own The Raleigh Wine Shop, bonded at a sommelier class over their shared interest and then got to talking. Elizabeth, connected with Grubb Co, who owns the buildings within the enclave where Sommelier's Roast is now housed. She also happens to work there. Grubb had expressed interest in getting some kind of food & beverage business placed in their building, and Sommelier’s Roast was born.
The food consists of breakfast and lunch items such as muffins, toasts, fresh fruit, sandwiches, salads & sides, as well as cakes which are a notch above standard eats. Baked goods come from Durham's Ninth Street Bakery.
The delicious breakfast toasts.
Equally delicious lunch salads.
Tea from Asheville Tea Company.
On hand also is beautiful art by local artist Eleatta Diver, as seen hanging behind Ashley & Elizabeth in the photo at top of story.
Also, another interesting touch is the modern-style chandelier by another local artist, Nate Sheaffer. It hangs in the center of the shop.
Sommelier’s Roast is located inside Regions Bank at 3700 Glenwood Ave. near Crabtree Valley Mall. GRAND OPENING: Thurs. 10/26, 4:30pm-7pm. Live jazz trio, giveaways, tea, coffee & wine tastings.
Address: 3700 Glenwood Avenue, Suite 150, Raleigh, North Carolina (Inside Regions Bank Building)
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sommeliersroast/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SommeliersRoast